How would you respond

I am on a web site that is normally a "trade" related web site....today the conversation wall turned to politics and the fact that Rick Santorum is pretty much the same as the Taliban, but just with a different point of worship....one of the people responded....

"I'd rather have someone with Christian religious values as POTUS than a Muslim or an atheist. Everyone's always afraid of a religious politician, but history in this country has shown it to be a non-issue once in office."

While I disagree...I am not really good at putting my thoughts into words. I would really like a good response...but I dont want piss anyone off (well not too bad) but I have tried to write something about more atheists having a higher moral standard than christians as well as being more tolerant...can anyone give me a few ideas?

Replies to This Discussion

"I'd rather have someone with Christian religious values as POTUS than a Muslim or an atheist. Everyone's always afraid of a religious politician, but history in this country has shown it to be a non-issue once in office."

Really! Then I guess you would have voted against Thomas Jefferson, who said, "History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes." Letter to Alexander von Humboldt.

And for that matter, you would have opposed James Madison, author of the Bill of Rights which grants religious freedom in this country, who said this about chaplains in Congress. "Is the appointment of Chaplains to the two Houses of Congress consistent with the Constitution, and with the pure principle of religious freedom? In strictness the answer on both points must be in the negative. The establishment of the chaplainship to Congs is a palpable violation of equal rights, as well as of Constitutional principles."

Or, Thomas Paine, one of the founding fathers and author of 'Common Sense," "The American Crisis," and "The Rights of Man." "All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."

But, then again, what the hell did the founding fathers know about creating a nation not based on religion?

This is a reply from someone with a very one-sided view, obviously. If most people who think atheists are horrible people would actually spend some time talking to any of us, they might have a different view. RECENT history shows that it is DEFINITELY an issue because bigoted legislation is being passed that has no basis other than religious. Legislation is being passed that forbids abortion regardless of rape, incest or mental health of the mother involved in an unwanted pregnancy. These unwanted children are at a much higher risk of being abused because they were born UNWANTED! Loving people are kept from adopting children based on the fact that they're gay and nothing more. These same people aren't allowed to get married. Of course, if you asked Michelle Bachman, she'd try to tell you that IS equal rights because any of those gay men are welcome to marry any woman they want, who want to marry them, just like everyone else. *facepalm*

thanks everyone....I basically said that i worry about someone who has to use a bronze age writing as their moral compass....and always has a fall back of "not my fault....god made me do it"....and an atheist would always be stuck with taking full responsibility for their own actions and would therefore make a more well thought out choice. I also worked annet's statement about jesus appearing on a piece of toast....he didn't like that too much but oh well....maybe he will pray I am forgiven......